Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Luke Shaw Replacements and More
With domestic leagues starting to take shape and European action having begun this week too, transfer rumours have taken a back seat in most of the prominent media outlets—but that's not to say they have stopped entirely.
Poorly performing teams, injuries and other speculation-inducing incidents mean that several clubs throughout Europe have seen their names linked with spending significant sums in January as they already start planning for improvements to their squads over the second half of the season.
Here we collate the 20 biggest rumours of the past week and rank them accordingly; they are ordered by rumoured price tag, ability of the player and relative reputation of the buying club.
20. Ricardo Vaz Te
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Former Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United winger Ricardo Vaz Te could be about to return to Premier League football after going on trial at West Bromwich Albion.
Vaz Te was with Akhisar Belediyespor last season in Turkey but left in the summer on a free, with Sky Sports now reporting he has the chance to impress Tony Pulis ahead of possibly signing a new deal.
The Baggies have the likes of James McClean and Callum McManaman in their wide options at present.
19. Charlie Taylor
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Luke Shaw's awful injury in the Champions League game against PSV means Manchester United are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, with Leeds United's Charlie Taylor an option.
A £4 million bid in January is possible, according to the Star, with Louis van Gaal having sent his scouts to gauge the left-back's progress this season.
Shaw could be out for between six to 10 months and has been first-choice for the Red Devils this season.
18. Sam Byram
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Swansea City boss Garry Monk keeps on earning credit and respect from all quarters for his team's way of playing and getting results, and now he seemingly wants to make a big addition to the squad to aid their push up the table.
Highly rated Sam Byram, currently of Leeds United, is his main target according to the Mirror, who link the Swans with an £8 million move once the January transfer window rolls around.
Byram, 22, plays both at right full-back and further forward in midfield.
17. Jetro Willems
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Another one of Manchester United's potential left-back targets for January, Jetro Willems is being considered by both the Red Devils and their Premier League rivals Liverpool.
That's according to the Express, who cite Dutch media outlet Eindhovens Dagblad announcing Willems, 21, has stalled on signing a new contract, despite currently suffering with a knee injury.
Both north-west clubs are therefore hoping to sign him on a cut-price deal next summer—if United don't make their move before then to counteract the injury suffered by Luke Shaw.
16. Kalidou Koulibaly
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Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was a target for both Norwich City and Southampton in the summer according to his agent speaking to Italian radio, as reported by TalkSPORT.
The agent says Koulibaly had a "very high" transfer fee but interested clubs only wanted a loan move, including Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen.
Koulibaly, 24, remained in place in the end and has made two appearances so far this term for Napoli, one in each of the Europa League and Serie A.
15. Steven Naismith
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Steven Naismith had a big impact off the bench as Everton beat Chelsea recently, netting a hat-trick to give his side victory, but he almost left the club shortly beforehand.
Sky Sports report Naismith had to be convinced by manager Roberto Martinez that staying at Everton was the right path, after Norwich City made an £8 million deadline-day bid for him.
Martinez ultimately rejected the bid and told the 29-year-old forward he would have a part to play—and that was certainly the case against the Premier League champions.
14. Carlos Vela
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Carlos Vela had options to leave Real Sociedad in summer, according to the player himself, including potential moves to MLS.
Sport report that Mexican forward Vela says he "thought about" departing Anoeta, and could do so again in January if offers arise.
So far Vela, 26, has been well below his best at the start of La Liga, and Real Sociedad have yet to score a single goal in their three matches, despite investing relatively heavily in attacking reinforcements over the summer.
13. Charlie Austin
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Sky Sports quote Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren as admitting Charlie Austin remains a transfer target for the club.
Austin, 26, was linked with a number of top-flight clubs over the summer after suffering relegation with Queens Park Rangers last season, though no move materialised and he remains playing in the Championship this term.
McClaren insisted he wasn't thinking about January targets but that Austin would "stay on the radar" of the team.
12. Martin Odegaard
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Martin Odegaard hasn't managed to break into the Real Madrid first-team set-up just yet and already rumours are circulating about the teenager's future.
The Norwegian talent is a target for Paris Saint-Germain next summer, according to French source Le10 Sport (h/t Spanish publication AS, via Football-Espana.net) who view Odegaard as an ideal replacement for Ezequiel Lavezzi.
At present Odegaard, 16, is playing with Castilla, Real's second-string team, though he was involved with Rafa Benitez's side during pre-season.
11. Ilkay Gundogan
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Barcelona have to get through to January with a bare-bones squad after selling on a handful of individuals in the summer and not being able to register any new signings until the winter transfer window.
Rafinha's injury, which will likely see him miss the rest of the season, means Luis Enrique is adamant the club must act in January to beef up the squad, reports Sport.
A number of names are mentioned, including Nolito and Andriy Yarmolenko, but the most reasonable potential replacement given for Rafinha in terms of filling a central-midfield role is Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, who has been tracked by the Liga champions for some time.
A continuation of his fitness this season, from now until January, may decide whether the Catalans act on their interest.
10. Riyad Mahrez
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Leicester City's excellent start to the new season has been in part down to the form of winger Riyad Mahrez, so it's no surprise that plenty of interest in the attacker has been forthcoming.
ESPN FC, however, report Mahrez's agent saying he is very happy at his current club and has no plans to move after just signing a new deal with the Foxes.
This comes despite rumours surrounding the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal thinking about Mahrez, 24, as a potential signing for future transfer windows.
9. Ruben Neves
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Porto is where Jose Mourinho really made his name as a top-class coach and the Chelsea boss looks set to return to his former side—but just to steal one of their top young talents, seemingly.
Ruben Neves is a January target for the Stamford Bridge side according to HITC (h/t the Express), with the Portuguese under-21 midfielder usually taking up a position in a deep midfield role for his current club.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are the other clubs mentioned in connection with the 18-year-old.
8. Hugo Lloris
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France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has continually been linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur, with the north London club failing to make the Champions League once again this season.
However, the stopper himself has said, as reported by TalkSPORT, he has no intention of leaving.
Lloris, 28, will be France's first-choice at Euro 2016 on home soil next summer, so it's unlikely he'd risk moving before that, but if Spurs continually fail to challenge for honours then the rumours will only continue to cycle regardless around one of the game's top goalkeepers.
7. Mesut Ozil
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Mesut Ozil remains a key figure in Arsenal's team this season, but his agent has appeared to suggest that might not be the case beyond the summer.
The Evening Standard reports that Ozil's agent believes Fenerbahce are an option next summer, with the Super Lig club "serious" about their interest in the German playmaker.
Ozil, 26, has played in six of Arsenal's seven matches this season.
6. John Stones
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Everton might have successfully fought off the advances of Chelsea during the summer transfer window as they sought to sign John Stones, but an even bigger predator is circling now.
TalkSPORT report Spanish publication AS claiming Real Madrid will target the 21-year-old as their new signing if French defender Raphael Varane leaves the club.
Varane is pretty much a first choice at the Bernabeu now, though he has continually struggled with injuries. Everton rejected multiple bids for Stones over the summer.
5. William Carvalho
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Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with William Carvalho, with the Portuguese defensive midfielder interesting Brendan Rodgers ahead of a January transfer bid.
Calcio Mercato (h/t Liverpool Echo) report the interest, though no fee is mentioned at this stage. Carvalho, who plays for Sporting CP, has been linked with other big Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Chelsea in the past.
The Reds have suffered in midfield this season with Jordan Henderson picking up an injury and none of Lucas Leiva, Emre Can or James Milner quite performing well enough so far.
4. Isco
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Isco has come back into the Real Madrid team after injuries to James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale, but he is still being linked with a move away.
Arsenal are the team who have made a "formal approach" to the Spanish giants, according to the Express (h/t Mirror), as they look to potentially seal a deal for the playmaker in the next transfer window.
Isco, 23, would be in competition with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain if he were to join the Gunners.
3. Jose Luis Gaya
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Another potential left-back target for Manchester United to look at in replacing the injured Luke Shaw is Valencia's excellent Jose Luis Gaya.
It would mean a serious outlay for United, with the 20-year-old Spaniard rated at over £30 million by his club, according to the Express who quote Fichajes.net in stating United's interest along with Chelsea and Manchester City.
Gaya signed a new deal at the end of last season and is a key part of Los Che's first XI.
2. Blaise Matuidi
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France and PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi has had the chance to leave the Ligue 1 champions—but rejected all opportunities to do so.
That's according to the man himself, who told radio station RMC (per Express) he wanted to stay and develop at the French club and his priority was to remain in place, in the team and the city.
The likes of Arsenal and Chelsea were linked with moves for him.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
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Cristiano Ronaldo might have made the headlines over the past couple of games for getting himself back on an extraordinary goal path, but he has also been linked with a move away from Real Madrid once again.
Le 10 Sport (h/t Express) report French journalist Frederic Hermel as quoting "important" sources telling him that any of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United or an MLS team have a huge chance of signing the No. 7 at the end of the present season.
Ronaldo has eight goals in his last two games for Real Madrid.
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